FISKE, JOHN (1842-1901). An American philosopher and historian. His original name was Edwin Fiske Green, but on the second mar riage of his mother (1855) he assumed the name of his maternal great-grandfather, John Fiske. Ile was born at Hartford, Conn., March 30, 1842. As a child he exhibited remarkable precocity. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1863, and at the Harvard Law School in 1865; but he never practiced law, having already, in 1861, inaugu rated his literary career by an article on Mr. Buckle's fallacies, in the National Quarterly Re clew. In 1S69 he began a eareer of distill g,uished success as a lecturer at Harvard, his general subject being Philosophy in Its Evolu tionary Aspect. In 1870 he was made instructor in history there, and in 1872 assistant librarian, a post which he resigned in 1879. In 1884 he was made professor of American history in Wash ington University, Saint Louis, having held a lectureship there since 18S1, and lectured annu ally for some years, though continuing to reside in Cambridge. III; reputation was already inter national, for he had lectured on American his tory at University College, London, in 1879, and at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in 1880. During the earlier part of his career his interest was very largely absorbed by the study of evolution, and it was as a popularizer of its phi losophy that he first won a national reputation, through Outlines of Cosmic Philosophy (1874). Essays and studies on allied subjects appeared under the titles: Myths and Myth Makers (1872) : The Unseen World (1S76) : Darwinism and Other Essays (1879; revised and enlarged. 1885) ; Excursions of an Evolutionist (1883) ; 7'he Destiny of Man Viewed in the Light of Ilis Origin. (1884); and The Idea of God as A ffeeted by Modern Knowledge (1885). This last work, supplemented by his Origin of Evil (1S99), may be regarded as a final epitome of Ids religious and philosophic views. American Political Ideas
Pierced from the Standpoint of Universal History was published in 1885, ;and with this began the fifteen years devoted to investigations in Ameri can history, which must, be regarded as at once the most popular and the most valuable of his contributions to American literature and to the molding of the national life. His contributions in book form to the history of his country were: A Critical Period of American History, 1783,89 (1888) ; 7'he Beginnings of New England (1889); Thu War of Independence, a book for young peo ple (1889) ; Uinil Governinco4 of the United States (1890); The nierifyin Revolution (2 vols., 1891) ; The Discovery of :interim (2 vols., 1892) ; A United States history for Schools (1895) ; Old irginhl and Her Neighbors (2 vols., 1897) ; Dutch and Quaker Colonies in America (2 vols., 1899) ; Essays, Literary and Historical (1902) ; and New France and New England (1902). These various works may be said to constitute practically a connected history of the United States from the first dis coveries to the establishment of federal govern ment. In addition, he edited, with Gen. James Grant Wilson. Appleton's Cyclopwdia of Ameri Ca n Biography (1887). It is less as an in vestigator, however, than as an educative force that he is to be esteemed. More than any other writer of his generation he brought home to the national consciousness a philosophic view of American history, by his remarkable power for lucid statement of balanced judgments. To his zeal of acquisition was joined an equal zeal to impart, and his admirable style made the work of following him anything but labor. He died prematurely, worn out by overwork, at Glouces ter, Mass., .Tuly 4, 1901.